Terms of Use and Disclaimer
Last updated: 2 October 2026
These terms apply to the Clean Surf Check website (cleansurfcheck.co.uk) and the Frothy Paddle app (app.cleansurfcheck.co.uk), together "the Service". By using the Service you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use it.
The Service is run by Christian Thorne, a sole trader based in Tiverton, Devon, United Kingdom, trading as Clean Surf Check ("we", "us"). Contact: info@christianthorne.co.uk.
1. Important: please read this first
The Service is for general information only. It is not safety advice, and it is not a guarantee of water quality or sea conditions.
- We do not test the water. The water-risk rating is our own estimate. It is calculated automatically from third-party data about storm overflow activity, rainfall and tides. It is not a measurement of bacteria or any other pollutant.
- A "Low" water-risk rating does not mean the water is clean or safe. Pollution can come from many sources the Service doesn't track, including farm run-off, animals, private sewage systems, boats, misconnected drains and overflows run by other companies. Some monitors also fail or report late.
- A "High" rating does not mean the water is definitely polluted. Overflow monitors can give false readings, for example when they are triggered by debris.
- Forecasts are computer models and can be wrong. Wave height, swell, wind, tide times and tide heights come from forecast models and may differ, sometimes a lot, from what you find on the beach. Tide information is modelled. It is not an official tide table and must not be used for navigation, fishing, rock-pooling or anywhere you could be cut off by the tide.
- Data can be delayed or missing. We update the Service regularly, but third-party feeds can be late, incomplete or unavailable. The Service may show out-of-date information without warning.
2. You are responsible for your own safety
Surfing, swimming and other water activities carry real risks, including drowning, injury and illness. Before going in the water, always:
- check the conditions with your own eyes, and don't go in if you are in any doubt;
- follow lifeguard advice, beach flags and local signs. Swim and surf between the flags where lifeguards are on duty;
- check official sources, including the Environment Agency's bathing water information service, Swimfo (environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles), during the bathing season, and the RNLI (rnli.org);
- only go out in conditions that suit your ability and equipment.
In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Any decision to enter the water is yours alone. Do not rely on the Service as your only source of information.
3. Where our data comes from
The Service combines data from these third parties. We process it, for example by converting units, combining sources and calculating our own ratings. Our ratings and summaries are our own work and are not produced or endorsed by these organisations.
- Waves, swell, wind, rain, sea level and sea temperature: Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0. We have changed the data by converting units, combining it with other sources and calculating ratings.
- Storm overflow status: South West Water, published through Water UK's National Storm Overflow Hub (streamwaterdata.co.uk), used under the licence published with that data. This is near real-time data that has not been through the water company's formal checking (audit) process.
None of these organisations is responsible for the Service, and their inclusion does not mean they endorse it.
4. Using the Service
- The Service is free to use for personal, non-commercial purposes.
- You must not copy, scrape, resell or republish the Service's data or ratings in bulk, or use automated tools to collect them, without our written permission.
- You must not try to disrupt, overload or gain unauthorised access to the Service or its server.
5. Availability and changes
We provide the Service "as is" and "as available". We may change, suspend or withdraw any part of it at any time, including the beaches covered and how ratings are calculated, without notice. We don't promise that it will always be available, error-free or up to date.
6. Our liability to you
The Service is provided free of charge for general information.
To the fullest extent the law allows, we are not liable for any loss, damage, injury or illness arising from your use of, or reliance on, the Service or any information in it. This includes decisions to enter or stay out of the water, travel costs, lost time and lost enjoyment.
Nothing in these terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for anything else that cannot be limited or excluded under the law of England and Wales. If you use the Service as a consumer, these terms don't affect your legal rights as a consumer.
7. Links to other websites
The Service links to other websites, such as beach webcams and official safety information. We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for their content, availability or privacy practices.
8. Intellectual property
The Service's design, illustrations (including the surfer character), text, code, branding and our own ratings belong to Christian Thorne. Third-party data remains subject to its own licence, as set out in section 3. You may share links to the Service and take screenshots for personal, non-commercial use.
9. Privacy
How we handle personal data is explained in our Privacy Policy.
10. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. The "last updated" date shows the current version. If you keep using the Service after a change, that means you accept the updated terms.
11. Law and disputes
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also bring proceedings in your local courts.
12. Contact
Christian Thorne, trading as Clean Surf Check
Tiverton, Devon, United Kingdom
info@christianthorne.co.uk